Growing student body spurs $498 million bond election

By Xxxxx Xxxxx |
March 5, 2013

Voters within the Lone Star College System will face a $498 million bond election on May 11 that would expand facilities throughout the system to accommodate a growing student body.

The college system's board on Feb. 20 voted to authorize the bond election that will not change the property tax rate if passed, college district officials said.

The tax rate is $0.1198.

The bond includes financing for learning facilities at each campus – projects that were prioritized and outlined by a group of citizen leaders as part of their recommendation to the board, according to an LSCS press release.

Since 2008 when district voters last passed a bond issue, LSCS has added more than 30,000 students.

"The enrollment growth at Lone Star College System is unprecedented," said Richard Carpenter, LSCS chancellor.

If approved, the bond issue would allow an addition of 1 million square feet of instructional and support building space, along with related infrastructure, to its colleges and centers.

LSCS also plans to renovate 255,000 square feet of space.

Carpenter said in a press release that bond referendum money can only be used for construction and not for operating expenses.

Early voting is set for April 29–May 7.

More information will be made available at LoneStar.eduBond2013.

In addition to the bond election, three trustee positions also are on the ballot.

LSCS has 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000.

One lane of Kingwood Drive is temporarily closed because of City of Houston construction crews replacing a segment of the Kingwood Lift Station No. 21 force main pipe.

The lane closure will take place between Kings Crossing and Forest Garden on the eastbound side, between 9 a.m. -3 p.m. daily, for about a month.

Crews also will be constructing a discharge force main from the Kingwood Lift Station No. 16 to the Kingwood Central Waste Water Treatment Plant Headworks Facility.